From the finer design details to the consideration of clever, next-generation appliances, creating a kitchen that balances form and functionality is no easy feat. To take a closer look at the key design elements that inspire a luxurious kitchen space, we called on est go-to designer Beatrix Rowe for advice.
Perhaps not surprisingly given her award-winning work, Beatrix Rowe considers the kitchen to be the most important element of the home. “It is generally a busy hub that everyone gravitates to, whether it’s a family with teenagers or a couple hosting co*cktails, so it not only needs to look great but the function of the kitchen is critical” she says.
Read on for more of Beatrix’s insights on how to build a functional yet aesthetically captivating foundation for your kitchen space, her most-specified design details and how best-in-class appliances can play a crucial role in creating a luxurious kitchen interior.
Produced in partnership with Liebherr
When factoring in a minimalist and contemporary aesthetic to the kitchen, Liebherr’s Monolith integrated refrigeration combines state-of-the-art innovation with premium craftsmanship.
Foundational Features:
Beatrix always begins with understanding the client and their individual needs in relation to how they use their kitchen to get the planning, scale and materiality right. “Every family or homeowner is different and it’s important to design for their requirements,” she explains. “It not only needs to look great but the function of the kitchen is critical. The kitchen needs to be designed for optimal function and maximum efficiency for cooking, gathering, entertaining and dining.”
The foundation of the kitchen design is usually shaped by practical needs; how many ovens are required, cooktop preferences, number and sizes of fridges and sinks, and the desired look and performance of benchtop materials. Beatrix and her team will then work on a design beginning with the layout plan, prioritising items or areas that are accessed frequently (like the fridge andpantry) are located in areas with good circulation and space around. If the house is large enough to accommodate a butlers pantry, deciding how that functions is also considered.
Building on the initial layout plan, a good design should then consider the ergonomics of bench height, space between benches, heights of wall ovens and reachable storage for frequently used items. “These decisions are the important ‘invisible’ decisions that can make or break a successful kitchen design” Beatrix says.
The design should also consider the orientation of the kitchen, its connection to the rest of the house and its lighting as key planning element. “The success of a kitchen is fundamentally about the function because without this, it will be the source of continual irritation,” says Beatrix. “The form then evolves around the layout and the two become harmonious and complementary.”
“Customisation and the ability to tailor a kitchen to your specific requirements is true luxury, where everything from the layout of the kitchen to the detail of the internal fittings are considered for optimum ease of use. Good design makes life more comfortable, easy and pleasurable.”
– Designer, Beatrix Rowe
Materiality and Design Details:
“Selecting the materials for the kitchen, in terms of how they look as well as perform, is often the fun stage” Beatrix tells us, “because let’s face it, this is generally what gets people excited.” It’s not hard to understand why – the selected materials for the kitchen often inform the broader home colour and material selection.
“Design details are what make a kitchen unique and special for a particular home” says Beatrix. From the thickness of benchtops, cupboard door panel details, integration of appliances and selection of materials, every detail has not only an aesthetic impact but, as Beatrix says, a more important performance impact.
Some of Beatrix’s most-specified details include natural stone, wall lights (Anchor Ceramics, Vibia Lighting and Viabizzuno are all current favourites), down draft rangehoods and Joseph Giles handles. And if you’ve got your heart set on natural materials, don’t despair – Beatrix suggests balancing them with high performing, impervious products to meet any heavy duty requirements without compromising the raw beauty of these materials.
Engineered to be the best in the world, Liebherr’s latest Monolith refrigeration range is made with luxury and seamless elegance in mind. Not only is Monolith customisable to suit any kitchen space, but fuses touch technology through it’s own smartphone or tablet app.
Appliances and Technology:
When it comes to choosing the right appliances for your kitchen, Beatrix reminds us it’s not only the products but their position in the space. “Appliances need to be located in the kitchen to optimise ease of use and this also means considering where they are in relation to each other for maximum functionality.”
State-of-the-art technology shouldn’t come at a cost of aesthetic, so just as you choose materials and design details that align to your personal taste so too should you make your appliance selections. With an impressive size, clean lines and sleek minimalist style, the Monolith fridge by Liebherr is our pick of the pack for a seamless refrigerator selection.
“The design of appliances are so good these days that we want them on display but when designing kitchens I make a decision about what to fully integrate behind panels and what to feature” says Beatrix. While she stresses investing in the things that make your heart sing, for her designs “it’s about balance and not having the kitchen appear too visually fussy.”
Taking on Beatrix’s advice, we suggest subtle yet sophisticated additions to the kitchen like the Liebherr built-in dual zone under-bench Wine Cellar for the wine enthusiasts out there, a premium refrigerator like Monolith for those who love to cook up a storm at home, or simply just a beautiful and unique slab of stone to really elevate the space and continue to bring joy for years to come.
To explore the next generation of home refrigeration, take a look at Liebherr’s latest Monolith range here.
